Vehicle-wheel.



I. O. SMITH.

VEHICLE WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 191B.

1,299,828. Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

1.0'. SMITH.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED APILzo. una.

1,299,62., Patented Apr. 8, 1919 2:SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LN'V'ENTOR.

` EN anion. l

JOHN 0. SMITH,'OF MOBERLY, MISSOURI.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

Application led April 20, 1918. Serial No. v229,740.

anduseful Improvements in Vehicle-Wheels,

of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof. j

This invention relates generally to vehicle wheels and, more particularly, to certain new sive construction, which willhave the genand useful improvements in vehicle wheels of the spring type,the objects of my present invention being to provide an efficient spring wheel of comparatively simple and inexpeneral appearance of the ordi-nary or standard pneumatic wheel; to provide a wheel of thev type stated having resilient means including a clencher' casing and radiallydisposed I"cushionspring spokes between the casing and hub; to provide a wheel of the type stated having easily manipulated means for varying the tension of the cushion-springs' and to indicate approximately the degree of tension of the springs; to provide a wheel ot' the type stated having conveniently manipulated means for the attaching and `detaching of the clenclicr casing; and to improve generally upon, and simplify the con struction of, wheels of the, class described.

With the above and other objects Iin view, my present invention resides in certain novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, all as will hereinafter be described and afterwardr pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section,

`of a wheel constructed in accordance with effecting a variable tension uponthe cushionspokes;

4 Fig. o is a transverse sectional View taken approximately 0n theline 5 5, Fig. 4,show

ing the casing as clenched to the Tim;

Fig. (3 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the cushion-spoke withdrawn from engagementwith the casing and the casing clenching element moved from the riinto permit the detacliing of the casing,'as shown; and Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 5 and 6,

-but in the plane of the spoke, showing the spoke fully withdrawn from the easing and the casing as detached.

Referring more particularly to the said drawings. in which like reference characters refer to like. partsl throughout the several views, my new wheel is shown as-operatively mounted upon a vehicle-axle 8 connected with the usualknuckle as in the front tially' cylindrical box 9, which is shown .as

being receptive of bearings, such as l0-1 0,l and a dust-ring 1l, such as a felt-washer or the like. The casings or outer members of the bearings 10 are suitably xed to the boxv 9 of-,the wheel, so thatthe bearings 10 are removable with thewheel from the axle. Fixed to-the box 9, preferably formed integral therewith, and adjacent its inner end, is an annular flange or spoke-disk 12, which, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, carries next its periphery suitably circumferentially spaced semi-cylindrical socket elements 13, whose bottoms 14 form rests or supports for the inner end of the tubes or barrels 15, and which bottoms 14 are provided or formed with approximately U-shaped openings or apertures 1'6 through which the stems 17 of the cushionspokes extend and movably fit. A circularrim 18 provided with circumfereiitially spaced apertures` 19 surrounds the' -Ifree ends of the spoke-barrels .15 and is 'secured or fixed in place thereon preferably by upsetting the ends of the barrels, as/y at 20, see especially Figs. 2 and 4. Rim 18 has its lateral margins turned outwardly to form or provide clench flanges 21. arranged to operatively receive the free edgesof a casing,

ving'o a pneumatic ,or the like formed upon the box 9 and one or more set-screws 26",r as best shown in Fig. 2.

barrel 15 40,

vide a stop,

gether andthe vthreaded at their tolimit the Next its periphery and 'in its outer face, the disk 23fis formed with asuitable mortise to provide a seat for a retaining-ring 28 having approximately 'semi-cylindrical elements or portions 29 forming companions to said socket-elements or portions 13 oi.v the disk 12.' The ring 28 is rigidly secured to the main hub disk 12 by means ofscrews, rivets, or the like 51, and is alsofriveted, as at 31, Ato each of the tubes or barrels l5, whereby I obtain a rigid, strong hub structure. Formed in the ring 28 atisfuitablecircumferential Aintervals "are threaded apertures to receive screwsor the like 30ada`pted to fit into suitable threaded seats 27 formed in -the disk 23 to securelylock the parts todisk 23 against rotation. he spoke-stems 17 are each reduced and outer endsand have secured thereto suitable spring-abutments 32; and telescopically fitting over each abutment 32, and within each barrely 15, is a' tubular. spring-casing 33, which normally projects at its outer end beyond'the outer end of the and carries at its projecting end an abutment 35 and av shoe bear against the imier surface of the casin Disposed between'said abutments 32 and 35 and `within the casing tensile coil-spring 36. At its-lnnerend, each casing 33 is bent or anged inwardly to proas at 37, adapted to engage the under or inner fac-e of .inner abutment 32 outward movement of 'thecasing 33 and lits inclosed spring 36 relatively to the'barrel' 15. The tire-casing, which is usually of a, suitable rubber or like flexible material or lfabric,` isprotected fromv injury and wear by abrasion by the shoes 34 bythe interplacement 4offlpads 38, as seen articularly in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, which pa es' pref-` erably consist of sections or pieces of felt,

rubber, or other suitable'material.

The shoes 34 are each provided with a socket 39 and the outer spring-abutment 35 witha ball 40 operatively fitting and suitably held in the coperating shoe-socket 39,

whereby certain relative movements are permitted between the shoe and spoke l to compensate for side, strains deli'veredftotthe'v l.particularly in Fig. 2..

34 adapted to 7 33, isan exselect for each radial lines and with.

v ingly permitted to freely eperate in straight Y comparatively little proper being thereby e5 added frictional' resistance"between thei'l`-- f' telescoping parts. By

is moved from 'its normal vor true position, that is laterally over the planevof the spokeends, the ball-and-socket joint described will allow of such casing movement without materially affecting the straight line, radial positions of the movable elements of the spokes,

this expedient, it willv be evident that, 'at times Vwhen vthe casing:

flexure of the casing approximately similar to that of a pneumatic tire being thereby permitted and theresiliency of the wheel as a whole. beingcorrespondingly increased;

To, effect a variation of the tension ofthe Lsprings' 36 of they spokes" to obtain the d en sired cushion effect, varying the air pressure in pneumatic tires, the spoke-stems 17 are extended at their inner ends to form orprovide heads 41 having on their outer fit into', and are irmly or portions 14 of the sockets 13 in operative engagement with a spiral rib 43- formed on the inner face 2 3. The wheel is secured to the axle in a manner common to ordinary wheels,"as by a nut 4l, and is further provided with of the outer spoke-diskv after the manner of" face spiral flanges 42 which held by the bottoms" hub-cap 45, which is ianged over the end 0f the foot-flange 24' of' .there secured by The'hub-cap 45, as Shown, is provided with a non-circular portion, to which a wrench fitted, whereupon, after a setfscrews 26 'to release It from the box 9, the hub-cap 45 'maybe-r0- .tatively moved, carrying with vitthe spokedisk' 23, whosel spiral rib 43, engaging' the spiralflan es 42 of thev effect a ra lial movement of ments 32 and, according of rotative movement of the hubcap 45,

the spring-abuteither diminish or increase the tension of the y This act of spring adjustment is spokes.

after having first loosened done, of course,

the spoke-disk 23 .and the set-screws 26, as seen may be operatively' loosening of thev e foot-flange24 spoke-stems 17, will to the direction the screws 30 which lock or hold the retain- 1ng-ring 28 and spoke-disk 23 together. J1

vIn the building of my new wheel, I exercise care in making all the spoke-elements of approximately uniform dimensions and also wheel a set of springs of approximately uniform power. and, in the assembly, arrange the partsso thatrthe springs will have an vapproximately zero ten-sion when the stems 17 are all drawn to their nearest and have an approximately maximum tenso doing I am enabled determine the v poun possible distance to the axle 1251. sion when moved farthest from the axle. By

to approximately vpre-y dS Pressure ioffgibss dially inwardly through the rim and having' theirouter ends suitably Xed in the segments or plates 48, are screws or the like 49, by means ofwhich the segments 48 'may be moved outwardly from the rim to permit the attachment for detachment of a casing and then drawn toward the rim to cause their beveled margins to seat the edges of the tire-casing in the clcncher-fianges 21 of the rim.

Assuming the wheel to be assembled, the tire-casing attached, as recited, and the spring-spokes extended and bearing out` wardly against the casing, as shown in all the figures, save Figs'. 6 and 7, and it be' desired to remove/the casing,.two essential steps r operations are required, the one being the moving of the clencher-plates. 48`

outwardly from engagement with the casing-edges by turning the screws 49 tothe positions shown in Fig. 6, and the other step being the withdrawal of the shoes 34 from engagement with the casing, accomplished by a rotation of'the hiib-cap 45 and the spoke-disk 23, as described. The shoes 34 are first moved to the position thereof shownin Fig. 6, when the casing-edges may be conveniently moved from within the flanges 21 of the rim and to the positionthereof l shown. The plates or segments 48 and shoes fbi.-

84 are then brought to the position thereof shown in Fig. 7, which showing, Fig. 7, is as of a complete withdrawal of the spokes, and it is in this position where the indicator7 registers zero Vith the plates 48 and shoes 34 inthe position shown in Fig. 7,

it is evident that the tire-casing may be detached from the wheel in amanner substantially similar as from an ordinary or standard pneumatic wheel; and it is further evident that witl` thev shoes 34 in the position shown in Fig. the shoes being suitably held to the balls 40 of the spokes, the wheel could be employed or used, if it was necessary so to do, without injury or damage to the wheel, as one of the non-'resilient or' rigid type. At thistime also, with the shoes 34 in such inner position, any necessary repairs oradjustments having been made, the casingis replaced by fitting its edges over the wheel or i-nto the position shown in Fig.

7. The shoes 34 and plates 4S are then moved into approximately the position shown in Fig. (i, when the casing edges may be fitted into the flanges 21, after which the plates oi' segments 48 aredrawn and secured manner position upon' the rim to cleneh l the edges of the casin in the flanges oi the .rim and the shoes 34 moved outwardly to any desired scale position for selective v 'My new wheel, constructed andembodying the parts described, is strong, etlicient, and exceedingly resilient to take up shocks and jars to which the vehicle may be subjected, substantially in the manner of the usual or standard pneumatically tired wheel, which my new wheel resembles.inoutward appearance. Different from such pneumatically tired wheel, however, my new wheel is not subject to` punctures with their consequent trouble and inconvenience.

In order to obviate the building up ot' air pressures within the tire-casing, due. to exposure to heat or to possible rpump actions of certain of the operative parts, I provide the rim with a suitable relief valve 50, as shown in Fig. l.

I 'am aware that changes in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my new wheel may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without dcpartingfrom the nature and/principlev of my invention.

Having thus described my invention', what I claim and desire'to secure by Letters latent is:

l. A wheel comprising a hub, a rim, rigid `tubular spokes disposed between, and xed at their ends to, the hub and rim, and tiredistend'ing members mounted for movement in the spokes and each normally having an end projecting outwardly beyond the outer' taceof the rim, in combination with a tirecasing seated dctachably upon the outer tace ofi' the rim `and enveloping the projecting ends of said members, means including members adapted for engagement with the tire-casing and the rini for detachably securing the tire-casing to its seat upon the rim, and means for moving the tiije-distend ing members inwardly relatively to the spokes to facilitate' detachment of the tirecasing from its seat upon the rim on disengagement of said securing-members.

2. A wheel comprising a hub, a rim, and rigid'tubular spokes disposed between, and fixed at their ends to, the hub and rim, in combination with a tire-casing adapted for removable mountin upon'the rim, tire-casing distending mem ers mounted for move- 'ment in the spokes, and. means for moving -or demounting of the '1n the casing,

said` members inwardly or outwardly relatively to the spokes to facilitate mounting tire-casing.- 3. Ina wheel, a hub, a rim, tubular spoke disposed between and fixed at their ends to the hub and rim, a tubular tire-casing detachably mounted upon the casing-supporting members movable within the spokes and each normally vhaving an end projecting beyond vthe rim and withand means for drawing the yieldable members inwardly relatively to fthe hub to detach the tire-casing from the rim. y 4t, In a wheel, disposed between and fixed at their ends to i the hubl and rim, a tubular tire-casing detachably mounted? upon the rim, yieldablenasing-supporting members movable within the spokes and each'normally having an end projectingbeyond the rim and within disposed between and 4tachably mounted upon the inner face of the the casing,` and Vmeans for drawing the yieldable members inwardly relatively to the hub `to detach the tire-casing from the rim, said means including stems disposed within the spokes and having engagement with the yieldable members, vand a rotative member at the hub havingl lengagement with the stems.

5. In 'a wheel, ahub, a rim, tubular spokes xed at their ends to a tubular tire-casing de upon lthe rim, yieldable casing-sup orting'members movable within the spoes and each normally having 'an end projecting beyond the rim and within the casing, and means for drawing the the hub and. rim,

-yieldable members inwardly relatively '.to

the hub to detach the tire-casing from the rim, said means including ribbed stems disposed within the spokes and having engagedisposedbetween and fixedO at their ends to the hub and rim, a tubular tire-casing mounted upon the rim, spring-members movable within the spokes andeach normally having an end yieldingly pressing upon ythe inner face of the tire-casing, and means :including a rotative member at the hub Lheving engagementnwith allthe springrim, yieldable se:ond, abutment,l

casing' fixed 'to the a hub, a rim, tubular 'spokes members,

members t'o'r varying the pressure of said 65 members upon the tire-casing. A y

8. Ina wheel, a hub, a rim, tubular spokes disposed between and fixed at their endsto the hub and rim, a tubular tire-casingl mounted upon A'the rim, movable within the Spokes and each'nor-'' mally. having an end yieldingly. pressing upon lthe i/rmer. face of the .tire-casing,` each of said members -includingan abutmentgal between the abutments, a spring-ir'iclosing' first abutment and telescopically fitting over and` adaptedfor engagement with 'the second abutment, and a ribbed stem having engagement `with vthe l80 second abutment, vand means including a spirally ribbed rotative member at the hub having engagement at its rib with the ribs of all s aid stems for'varyingthe pressure of said spring-members upon the tirecasing. l

9. In a wheel, a-hub, a rim, tubular spokes disposed between and fixed at their ends to the hub and rim, tire-engaging members 'movable within the spokes, each of said 90.-

members including a stem lengthwise disposed within the spoke, andmeans having engagement with said stems for adjust'ably holding the tire-engaging-members in operative position inf the spokes. 95 10. In a wheel, a hub, a rim, tubular f spokes disposed between and xed at their ends to the hub and rim, tire-engaging members movable within 'the spokes, and meansifor adjustably holding gaging members inoperative position in the 11. I n4 a wheel, a hub comprising a tubu-` lar portion having an annular flange provided-with an annular series of approximately 4semi-cylindrical sockets, a retainingring provided with a companion series of approximately semi-cylindrical sockets,. tubular spoke-members'seated in the sockets provided by the ring and fiange, idly securing the rino and flangetogether with the spoke-members therebetween, a rim surrounding and fixed to the spokemembers, tire-engaging members movable withinthe. spoke-members, and means for adjustably holding the tire-'engaging mem-' bers in operative position in the spokesaid means including ribbed stems. disposed within the lspoke-members and having engagement with the tire-engaging members, and a spirally ribbed disk mounted for rotation upon said tubular portion of `the hub and 'within said ring, saiddisk f having engagement at its rib with the ribs of said stems'. Y i

12. In a wheel, a-fhub, arim, a'tubular casing mounted on the rim, a series' ofspring-membersengagng the-inner face of spring-'members 70.-

a coiled. Spring vdisposed v the tire-en-'100' l means rig- 110 the casing and arranged to act as cushions between the hub and casing, each of said spring-members including a coiled spring,

.and means including a single manipulative spring-members engaglng the inner face of 10 the casing and arranged to act as cushions Copies of t'his patent may be obtained for v-name bo this specification.

between the hub and casing, each of said spring-members including a coiled spring, means including a single manipulative member for simultaneously eiecting a variation in tension of all thesprings, and means o indicating approximately the degree of lcension of the springs.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my JOHN o. SMITH.

live-cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of llatents,

Washington, G. 

